Analog controls housed with electronic displays for voice recorders

ABSTRACT

A voice recorder including a housing having a general image display mounted therein, and further including a pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor for creating a varying analog value according to varying depression applied by a finger of a human user to the analog sensor. Multiple analog sensors are sometimes utilized. In one preferred embodiment the analog sensor(s) include resilient dome cap(s) for providing tactile feedback to the finger depressing the analog sensor. Circuitry within the housing is connected to the analog sensor for reading the varying analog value from the analog sensor and causing representative varying of the imagery shown by the display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

A Priority claim is hereby made under 35 U.S.C. 120:

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional PatentApplication No. 09/568,662 filed May 10, 2000, and a Priority claim wasmade to Provisional Patent Application No. 60/133,682 filed May 11, 1999in and for the application Ser. No. 09/568,662.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention involves an electronic device including acombination of a electronic visual display in or on a housing,electronic circuitry in the housing, and at least one analog sensorcomprising a finger or thumb depressible surface with associated analogpressure-sensitive element. The analog pressure-sensitive element is foroutput of a signal of variable value utilized by the circuitry tocontrol or manipulate one or more functions of the electronic device.The resultant control manipulation from the analog sensor is in somemanner indicated or displayed on the display at least at the time theuser is pressing the depressible surface, thereby the human user isprovided data related to a new state or setting brought about, or in theprocess of being brought about, by manipulating the variable value ofthe analog sensor through controlled varied amounts of finger pressureapplied to the depressible surface of the analog sensor. Based upon thefeedback on the display, the user may terminate, increase or decreasethe finger pressure on the depressible surface of the analog sensor.

2. Brief Description of Related Prior Art

Displays, housings, electronics and analog output buttons do exist inthe prior art. The present invention, however, does not exist in theprior art and is of significant and substantial value as will becomefully appreciated with continued reading.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, at least from one viewpoint, is an electronicdevice, which may take many forms as herein disclosed, but all includinga combination of a electronic visual display in or on a housing,electronic circuitry in the housing, and including at least one humanuser depressible surface with associated analog pressure-sensitiveelement for output of a signal of variable value utilized by thecircuitry to control or manipulate a function(s) of the device. The atleast one analog pressure-sensitive element receives pressure applied bya user's finger (the word finger or fingers or digit can be herein usedto include the thumb) to the depressible surface, varied pressureapplied by the user determines varied value of the signal, and thisallows the user to select rates of change, the rate of change in someway being displayed on the display to allow the user to choose more orless pressure, or to terminate pressure on the finger depressiblesurface. The resultant control manipulation from the analog variablevalue is in some manner indicated or made visually detectable asfeedback on the display at least at the time the analog sensor is beingdepressed, and this to allow the intelligent application of fingerpressure by the user to the analog sensor. Some examples of functionswhich can be manipulated, controlled or changed, and at variable ratesdependent upon user applied pressure, include menus or lists displayedon telephones, television program menus and the like, numeric settingssuch as related to time, temperature or number of units, such as numberof copies to be made by a photocopy machine for example. Some additionalexamples of electronic devices described in accordance with theinvention include desktop displays, hand-held game systems, personaldigital assistants (PDA), electronic books, wireless web browsers, timedisplay clocks/watches, cooking ovens, pagers, remote controller such asused with TVs stereos, etc., and coffee makers all with displays. Thedisplays can be CRT, non-CRT, LCD, LED or any other suitable type and inmany applications are seven-element numeric displays such as arecommonly used to display number of units or time.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic deviceincluding a combination of an electronic visual display in or on ahousing, electronic circuitry in the housing, and at least one analogsensor comprising a finger or thumb depressible surface with associatedanalog pressure-sensitive element for output of a signal of variablevalue utilized by the circuitry to manipulate one or more functions ofthe electronic device at varied rates, the manipulation in some mannerindicated on the display at least at the time the user is pressing thedepressible surface, thereby the human user is provided data allowingthe intelligent increase, decrease or termination of the finger pressureto effect a rate of change.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a 2-way analog rocker as may beemployed with the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a 4-way analog rocker as may beemployed with the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram in accordance with the invention having ageneral image display.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram in accordance with the invention having atwo digit seven segment numeric display.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram in accordance with the invention having athree digit seven segment numeric time display.

FIG. 6 shows a voice recorder in accordance with the present inventionhaving a housing, an electronic display and two 2-way analog rockerbuttons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Herein incorporated by reference is my pending U.S. Provisionalapplication No. 60/133,682 filed May 11, 1999 titled ANALOG CONTROLSHOUSED WITH ELECTRONIC DISPLAYS for the teachings of the presentinvention therein.

Also herein incorporated by reference is my pending U.S. Non-ProvisionalApplication No. 08/942,450 filed Oct. 1, 1997, title GAME CONTROLLERWITH ANALOG PRESSURE SENSOR(S), now U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,802; thisdisclosure incorporated by reference primarily for the positiveteachings therein of structuring and methods of use and the reading ofanalog sensors such as elastomeric dome-cap style positioned in end-usefor depression directly or in-directly by a human digit with varyingdegrees of force. Additionally, 4-way analog rockers, 2-way analogrocker buttons and individual analog push buttons are described indetail in my disclosure titled GAME CONTROLLER WITH ANALOG PRESSURESENSOR(S).

Also herein incorporated by reference is my pending U.S. Non-ProvisionalApplication 09/122,269 filed Jul. 24, 1998, titled VARIABLE-CONDUCTANCESENSOR WITH ELASTOMERIC DOME-CAP, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,886; thisdisclosure incorporated by reference primarily for the positiveteachings therein of structuring and methods of use and the reading ofanalog sensors such as elastomeric dome-cap sensors positioned inend-use for depression directly or in-directly by a human digit withvarying degrees of force, and for data related to possible digital bitassigning to various states or levels of conductivity of the analogsensors wherein the differing bit assignment can be used indicative ofdiffering pressures applied by the human user to the analog orpressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor(s).

Also herein incorporated by reference is my U.S. Pat. No. 5,999,084issued Dec. 7, 1999 titled VARIABLE-CONDUCTANCE SENSOR; this Patentincorporated by reference primarily for the positive teachings thereinof structuring and methods of use and the reading of analog sensors aswith my packaged type such as with a conductive dome providing a tactilefeedback, circuit elements and pressure-sensitive variable-conductancematerial engaged or engagable with the circuit elements to provideanalog output or the like; the sensor positioned in end-use fordepression directly or in-directly such as by a human digit with varyingdegrees of force. This sensor provides tactile feedback at approximateactivation and deactivation of the analog pressure sensitive material,the disclosure describing the benefits, which can be gained with ananalog sensor providing bi-or uni-directional tactile feedback.

Also herein incorporated by reference is my pending U.S. Provisionalapplication No. 60/135,085 filed May 20, 1999 titled KEYBOARD WITHDEPRESSIBLE ANALOG SCROLL CONTROL. This provisional disclosure alsoincludes a modified USB software code on 3.5″ floppy which althoughspecifically directed to my Mouse With Analog Buttons of applicationSer. No. 09/167,314 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,473 filed Oct. 6, 2000, itcan clearly be readily modified to operate with the present invention,although those skilled in the art will agree numerous suitable softwarecodes can be readily applied with little modification to interfacebetween the hardware of a keyboard in accordance with the invention andsoftware, ROM, hardware, etc. of a computer to be manipulated by thepresent keyboard. The modified code is one which includes a bitassignment for each scroll direction and associated with each buttonassociated with that direction, and which is arranged along withelectronics to repeat the direction-identifying code at a variable rateof repeat when the user is depressing the associated button, the rate ofrepeat (scrolling) indicative of the read value of the analog sensor,i.e., pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material and the amount ofdepressive force the human user is applying thereto. Greater details ofthis Variable-Rate On/Off Messaging System are provided in my pendingU.S. Provisional application filed May 10, 1999, application Ser. No.60/133,319 and herein incorporated by reference, and this for theteaching of the varied “ON” or “OFF” signal rate of sending, the rate ofthe simple message being dependent or resultant of the amount ofpressure applied or the varied value single of a pressure-sensitiveanalog element. Certainly other suitable codes and the like can beutilized within the scope of the invention. For more data regardingsoftware or firmware codes, go to cypress.com on the World Wide Web.Also incorporated herein is my pending U.S. Non-Provisional applicationversion of the Provisional application No. 60/135,085 filed May 20, 1999titled KEYBOARD WITH DEPRESSIBLE ANALOG SCROLL CONTROL, theNon-Provisional application No. 09/563,109 (to be filled in later) filedMay 2, 2000 also titled KEYBOARD WITH DEPRESSIBLE ANALOG SCROLL CONTROL.

Also herein incorporated by reference is my pending U.S. Non-Provisionalapplication No. 08/677,378 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,525, filed Jul. 5,1996 titled IMAGE CONTROLLERS AND SENSORS (as amended) particularly, butnot exclusively, for the pressure-sensitive membrane analog sensors withtactile feedback described therein.

Also herein incorporated by reference is my pending U.S. Non-ProvisionalApplication No. 09/148,806 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,271, filed Sep. 4,1998, title REMOTE CONTROLLER WITH ANALOG BUTTON(S). This disclosureincorporated by reference primarily for the positive teachings thereinof structuring and methods for dual-purpose sensors capable of bothanalog and On/Off modes.

Also herein incorporated by reference is U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,227 issuedFeb. 2, 1982, this patent incorporated only for its positive teachingsof membrane or sheet based analog sensors.

With reference now to the drawings for a more detailed description.

FIGS. 3-5 show various diagrams of general image displays that may beutilized with a variety of consumer electronic devices, such as atelephone, and having a housing 11, a display 22 associated with housing11, i.e. mounted on or in the housing 11, and at least one analog sensor26 having a depressible surface area associated with the display. Analogsensors 26 can be ganged in 2-way and 4-way units such as rockers 14, 16and 18, or can be in single button or surface form such as shown at 19in some of the drawings. The analog sensor 26 in a preferred structurehas a pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material for providing avariable signal varying with differing amounts of user finger appliedpressure, however, the associated circuitry can be structured toadditionally read a rapid press and release on the sensor as amomentary-On used to supply a single increment signal, e.g., single stepnumeric increase/decrease or scroll up/down. As the user's fingerdepresses the sensor material, its conductivity is read by associatedcircuitry, such as a microcontroller, reading the time of charge ordischarge of a capacitor as determined by the conductivity of the analogsensor material. The devices that may be utilized with the presentinvention already have internal microcontrollers or even more complexcircuitry, and one of average skill in the art can readily apply theanalog buttons/sensors/analog rockers/analog membrane sensors to theindicated art with an understanding of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a 2-way analog rocker 14 or 16 as maybe employed in embodiments of the invention as an analog sensor 26.Shown is a circuit board 40 with exposed interdigitated circuit traces44 as a common, 42, 46 as outs or switch legs; two “pills” or disks ofpressure-sensitive variable-conductance material 38; two rubber-domecaps 36 positioned beneath a 2-way rocker member 30. The 2-way rockermember 30 has a first depressible surface 32 and a second depressiblesurface 34. Each finger depressible surface 32, 34 for functioning bydepression with the shown respective dome-caps 36, pills 38 and thecircuit traces 42, 44, 46. It does not require a rocker to electricallyachieve that which is accomplished with a 2-way or 4-way, 14, 16, 18rocker, as two separate or four separate depressible buttons or surfaces(see FIG. 2) can be used although I prefer the rocker format for ease oflocating desired direction oriented depressible surfaces simply by feelwithout having to look.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a 4-way analog rocker 18 as may beemployed in the embodiments of the current invention. Shown is a circuitboard 40 with exposed circuit traces indicated at 62 for four sensors26. Also shown are four pressure-sensitive variable-conductance pills orelements 38; a 4-way rubber-dome cap unit 56 with each of the 4 domecaps 60 support by base 58 over a “pill” or disk of pressure-sensitivevariable-conductance material 38; and a 4-way rocker member having afirst surface 48, a second surface 50, and third surface 52, and afourth depressible surface 54. Each surface for functioning bydepression with the shown respective dome-caps 60, pills 38 andcircuitry 62 of the board 40. This disclosure discloses that which canbe viewed from numerous points, but clearly herein described areimproved methods, structures, and also methods of manufacturing inaccordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 3-5 show block diagrams in accordance with the invention.Illustrated is a housing 11 containing two sensors 26, one sensor 26having depressible surface 80 and the other sensor 26 having depressiblesurface 82. The sensors 26 are connected to circuitry 53 connected to adisplay 22. Also illustrated is a box representing a human user 72 withthe user's eye 74 receiving visual feedback from display 22. The visualfeedback received by the eye 74 at least in part influences thedepressive pressure exerted by the user's finger 76 against sensor 26which in turn is read by circuitry 53 which controls the visual feedbackdisplayed on display 22, thus a closed loop feedback system isestablished in which the user 72 receives immediate feedback concerningthe control of the electronic device according to the invention. Thestate of circuitry 53, as controlled by the user, can control otherfunctions 78 of the electronic device.

FIG. 3 shows display 22 as a general image display. The general imagedisplay 22 includes an upper area and a lower area, thus a user mayscroll data at varying rates from the lower area to the upper area bypressing surface 80, and from the upper area to the lower area bypressing surface 82.

FIG. 4 shows display 22 having two seven segment numeric displays 28,thus the user may select numbers at a variable rate by varyingdepression on sensors 26. For example, such selection may be for numberof copies to be made by a photocopy machine, temperature setting of athermostat, channel number on a television and the like. Depression ofsurface 80 is arranged in this example to cause a variable rate ofascending numbers according to the level of depressive pressure appliedto surface 80. Depression of surface 82 is arranged in this example tocause a variable rate of descending numbers according to the level ofdepressive pressure applied to surface 82.

FIG. 5 shows display 22 having three seven segment numeric displays 28as are commonly used in time displays. Thus the user may select at avariable rate, numbers representing timing, by varying depression onsensors 26. In FIG. 5, depression of surface 80 is arranged in thisexample to cause a variable rate of ascending numbers representing timeaccording to the level of depressive pressure applied to surface 80, anddepression of surface 82 is arranged in this example to cause a variablerate of descending numbers according to the level of depressive pressureapplied to surface 82, or surfaces 80 and 82 can be arranged to controlhours and minutes individually. Clearly a clock can be greatlyadvantaged by ascending and descending sensors 26 for both hours andminutes adjustments.

FIG. 6 shows a voice recorder in accordance with the present invention.U.S. Class 345 contains many prior art patents describing Non-CRTdisplays for those wishing more information thereon. U.S. Class 346contains many prior art patents describing recorders for those wishingmore information thereon. Shown in FIG. 6 is a housing 11 and a display22 mounted within the housing. At the center of the front of housing 11just below the electronic display is shown two 2-way analog rockers, 14and 16. Shown just to the right of the center of the housing is a 2-wayanalog rocker 16, which can serve as an X-axis, horizontal control orscroller. Shown just to the left of the center of the housing is a 2-wayanalog rocker 14, which can serve as a Y-axis, vertical control orscroller. For example the 2-way analog rocker 16 may be utilized toscroll at variable speed through the voice recording to desiredlocations in the recording for review. This may be performed inconjunction with a digital counter provided with or on the voicerecorder or via a digital display counter appearing on the electronicdisplay. Correspondingly, the 2-way analog rocker 14 may be utilized toscroll through at variable speed the control commands that may appear onthe electronic display.

The present electronic devices utilize analog sensors and circuitry forreading at least three readable states, analog values or conductancelevels of each of the analog sensors; the states, values, levels or thelike may be or can be varied voltages or currents (example only), andare varied dependent upon depressive pressure applied to a fingerdepressible button associated with each analog sensor. Button may beherein treated as the finger depressible area of a rocker member such asa 2-way or 4-way or the like. The associated circuitry is structured toread an immediate, instant or current state or value of the analogsensors and to communicate representative control signals. The at leastthree states of the active element (analog sensor) can represent atleast: 1) no pressure, 2) low pressure, and 3) high pressure applied tothe depressible surface by the human user's finger or thumb (digit), the3 level equating to rates of change. The analog sensor and circuitryarrangement can be employed in a manner wherein not just three but manystates are read, thus ensuring high resolution reading of a variablychanging depressive button pressure input. Preferably, many differentuser determinable rates (many different states rate by the circuitry)are provided between low and high pressure on the associated button sothat the user is provided, for example, very slow, slow, medium, fastand very fast change rates. With the analog sensors, the user isprovided variable change rate control dependent upon the degree ofdepressive pressure he or she applies to the button associated with theanalog sensor(s) which is indicated or made visually detectable on thedisplay at least at the time the analog sensor is being depressed, andthis to allow the intelligent application of finger pressure by the userto the analog sensor. Based on the information shown on the associateddisplay, the user can choose to increase, decrease or terminate fingerpressure on the analog sensor. Such an arrangement provides the uservastly improved control by allowing the user to apply low pressure tohave a slow rate of change, or to apply high pressure to initiate veryrapid change, and then to reduce the applied pressure to the button toreduce the rate of change in order to stop easily and precisely on adesired target or within a desired area, such precise control is clearlyadvantageous and desirable.

The invention can be viewed or defined in numerous ways includingstructure and methods as those skilled in the art will realize upon areading of this disclosure presented to exemplify rather than limit theinvention. Thus, the invention should be defined by the broadestpossible interpretation of the claims.

I claim:
 1. A voice recorder, comprising: a housing; electroniccircuitry located in said housing; a general image display located insaid housing, said general image display operatively connected to saidcircuitry; a first finger depressible surface in part exposed on saidhousing, said first finger depressible surface operatively connected toa pressure-sensitive first analog sensor, said first analog sensor forinputting a first signal to said circuitry; a second depressible surfacein part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surfaceoperatively connected to a pressure-sensitive second analog sensor, saidsecond analog sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry;said circuitry structured to receive the signals and to cause saidgeneral image display to scroll data at a variable rate according tovariable pressure applied to the depressible surfaces.
 2. A voicerecorder according to claim 1 wherein variable depression of a surfaceof a rocker having at least two depressible surfaces causes the data tozoom at a variable rate on said display.
 3. A voice recorder accordingto claim 2 wherein said first depressible surface and said seconddepressible surface are surfaces of a rocker.
 4. A voice recorderaccording to claim 3 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors arestructured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured toprovide tactile feedback.
 5. A voice recorder according to claim 1wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressiblesurface are thumb depressible single individual buttons.
 6. A voicerecorder according to claim 5 wherein the pressure-sensitive analogsensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome capsstructured to provide tactile feedback.
 7. An improved voice recorder ofthe type having capability of recording voice, wherein the improvementscomprise: a housing; and electronic circuitry located in said housing; ageneral image display at least in part supported by said housing, saidgeneral image display operatively connected to said circuitry; a firstfinger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said firstfinger depressible surface operatively connected to a pressure-sensitivefirst analog sensor, said first analog sensor for inputting a firstsignal to said circuitry, said first signal having variable valuedepending on variable pressure applied to said first finger depressiblesurface; a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing,said second depressible surface operatively connected to apressure-sensitive second analog sensor, said second analog sensor forinputting a second signal to said circuitry, said second signal havingvariable value depending on variable pressure applied to said seconddepressible surface; said circuitry structured to receive the signalsand to cause said general image display to zoom data at a variable rateaccording to variable pressure applied to the depressible surfaces. 8.An improved voice recorder according to claim 7 wherein variabledepression of a first depressible surface of a rocker having at leasttwo depressible areas causes the data to scroll at a variable rate in afirst direction on said display, and variable depression of a seconddepressible surface of said rocker causes the data to scroll at avariable rate in a second direction on said display.
 9. An improvedvoice recorder according to claim 7 wherein said first depressiblesurface and said second depressible surface are thumb depressible singleindividual buttons.
 10. An improved voice recorder according to claim 9wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured to providetactile feedback.
 11. An improved voice recorder according to claim 7wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured withresilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactilefeedback.
 12. A voice recorder, comprising: a housing; and electroniccircuitry located in said housing; a general image display at least inpart supported by said housing, said general image display operativelyconnected to said circuitry; at least one finger depressible surface inpart exposed on said housing, said at least one finger depressiblesurface operatively connected to at least one depressible proportionalsensor, said proportional sensor for inputting a signal to saidcircuitry, said signal having a varying value representing varyingdepression of said at least one finger depressible surface; saidcircuitry structured to receive said signal and to cause said generalimage display to change display of information shown on said display ata rate related to said value.
 13. A voice recorder according to claim 12wherein said at least one finger depressible surface is a firstdepressible surface, said voice recorder further includes a fingerdepressible surface which is a second depressible surface in partexposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operativelyconnected to a second proportional sensor, said second proportionalsensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry, said secondsignal having a varying value representing varying depression of saidsecond depressible surface.
 14. A voice recorder according to claim 13wherein the proportional sensors are pressure-sensitive and arestructured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured toprovide a break-over tactile feedback.
 15. A voice recorder according toclaim 14 wherein said first depressible surface and said seconddepressible surface are surfaces of at least a two-way rocker.
 16. Avoice recorder according to claim 15 wherein depression of said firstdepressible surface causes the data to scroll in a first direction onsaid display, and depression of said second depressible surface causesthe data to scroll in a second direction on said display.
 17. A voicerecorder according to claim 14 wherein said first depressible surfaceand said second depressible surface are surfaces of a four-way rocker.18. A voice recorder according to claim 13 wherein depression of saidfirst depressible surface causes the data to zoom in a first directionon said display, and depression of said second depressible surfacecauses the data to zoom in a second direction on said display.